Torpedo-protecting device for ships.



C. SMYRSKI 4! J. LORENC.

TORPEDO PROTECTING DEVICE FOR SHIPS. APPucmgm FILED IUIEZS. 1911.

1,248,940. Patenwd Dec, 4,1911.

FIG. 1. v I

CARL SMYRSKI AND JAN LORENC, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TORPEDO-PBOTECTING DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4,1917.

Application filed June 28, 1917. Serial No. 177,500.

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, CARL SMYRSKI, and

JAN LORENC, a subject of the Emperor of Austria and a citizen of Russia, respectively, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Torpedo-Protectin Devices for Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new'and useful improvements in torpedo protecting devices for ships.

The primary object of the invention isthe provision of a protector adjustably carried substantially surrounding the hull of a vessel whereby torpedoes and other projectiles will be prevented from striking the ship and causing injury thereto.

A further object of the device is to provide a protector a ainst torpedoes which are adapted to trave near the water line, the present device affording protection at this point in the form of a resisting armor which missiles will be incapable of penetrating.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a vertically adjustable armor for ships hulls adapted for removably positioning thereon, and which is readily shifted bodily for substantially encircling the water line portion of the ship.

In the drawlng forming a part of this application, and in which like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ship provided with the present device,

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through a portion of the device showing the elevating means employed,

Fig. 3 is a top plan view ofthe bow portion of a ship provided with the device, parts being broken away and Fig. 4 i a top plan view of the operating means for the elevating devices which are employed.

The present invention is herein illustrated in connection with a ship 10 having a hull 11, a deck 12, cabin 13 and wireless mechanism 14.

Curved mattresses or shields 15 of material suitable as armor, as metal, are arranged with their forward ends pivoted together as at 16 and being positioned upon opposite sides of the hull for substantially inclosing the same with the connection 16 forwardly of the bow 17 thereof, connecting clamps 18 belng' secured between the rear end of the shields 15 surrounding the stern portion 19 of the hull."

Upright racks 20 are secured to the shields l5 freelypassing vertically through brackets 21 arranged acent the deck 12 of the hull 11 the said racks being slightly resilient while spacing springs 22 are carried by the inner sides of the shields 15 for slidably enaging the outer surface 'of the hull 11. inions 23 are mounted upon shafts 24 j ournaled through brackets 25 uponthe deck 12 adjacent the brackets21, the said pinions23 being in mesh with. the teeth 26 of the racks 20.

The shafts 24 may be operated in any desired manner such as by means of sprocket chains 27 passing over sprocket wheels 28 adapted for operative connection with and released from the shafts 30 by means of clutches 29 while the chains 27 also pass over sprocket wheels 31 carried by the shaft 2+1, it being understood that the shafts 30 are power shafts operable either by hand or by motor not shown.

The shields 15 which, as heretofore stated are of metal, are formed of laminations having their outer layers and intermediate layers 32 formed of strips longitudinally arranged While the intervening layers 33 eX- tend vertically of the shields. This formation of shields is adapted for rendering the same impenetrable by torpedoes or projectiles striking the shields from either side of the ship 10 while the shields 15 are readily adjusted for covering the hull 11 adjacent the water line and whereby the ship is protected from attack from torpedoes which are launched from submarines.

A complete operation of the device having been already described, it will be understood that the preferred embodiment is herein set forth, but that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What we claim as new is:

1. A protector for ships comprising elongated shields formed of laminated longitudinal and transverse strips, pivotal connections between the forward ends of the shields, clamp connections between the rear ends of the shields, spacing springs carried by the inner faces of the shields and elevating means for the shields.

2. A device of the class described, com

1' upon the deck of the ship .clampsbetweenthe rear ends of the shields, springs carried by the inner faces of the shields, slidably contacting the hull, project-' ing brackets carried adjacent the topof the hull, upright resilient tilted racks carried by said shields, slidably arranged through the said brackets, shafts journaled'up'on' the deck'of said hull, pinions carried "by said shafts in constant mesh withsaid racks, and operating means for said 3; 'Aprotector for ships, including shields adapted to conform j to the general. outline of the hull,at the waterline, with their forward ends pivoted together forwardly of :the

coptel of this patent may be obtained for shafts arranged i bow and their'rear ends extending to, and

connected together in rear of the stern, spacing Ineansbetween"the'shields and the hull, and means for suspending the shields in position from the deck.

4. A protector for ships, including shields adapted to conform to the general outline of the hull, at ,thewaterline, with their forward' ends pivoted together forwardly of the bow and their rear ends extending to, and connected together. in rear ofthe stern,

resilient spacing means intermediate of the shields and the hull, and means for suspending the shields in position from the deck.

- In testimony whereof :we aflix our signap oARLsM'YRsKn tures in presence of a witness.

Witness: i i H I T HRYCEY five cents each, by-address ing the comniiss iohcr ot fateiits. wasmn m nc. V 

